Devaporizing muffler



Sept. 6, 1955 2,717,049

J. A. LANGFORD DEVAPORIZING MUFFLER Filed May 5, 1952 (E v A- LANGFOQD,

INVENTOR.

ATTOQNEY- ilnited bttes Patent DEVAPORIZING MUFFLER John A. Langford, Anaheim, Calif., assignor to The Floor Corporation, Ltd, Los Angeles, alif., a corporation of California Application May 5, 1952, Serial No. 286,134

11 Claims. (Cl. 183-2) This invention has to do generally with improvements in combustion engine mufflers, and has for its general object to provide an improved muffler especially designed for use in arctic or other sub-zero regions, the muffler being characterized in this respect by its ability to remove moisture from the gas stream being mufiled, and therefore to minimize the discharge of condensible vapors to the atmosphere.

As is known, fuel combustion in an engine forms considerable water vapor, and where the gas stream may be discharged into a very cold atmosphere, the moisture particles condense and appear as a distinctly visible vapor. For security reasons, it is desirable to eliminate as completely as possible all visible vapors from the released exhaust gases.

The invention is predicated upon the general concept of inducing into the exhaust gas stream within the muffler, sufficient cold atmospheric air to cool the gas stream below the dew point of the water vapor content of the gases to thereby condense the vapor, separating the condensed particles from the gas, and separately withdrawing the condensate from the mufiier in advance of the exhaust gas discharge to the atmosphere. Admixing of the hot inlet exhaust gases with suflicient cold atmospheric air to produce the condensation, preferably is accomplished by incorporating in the muffler an induction nozzle and throat arrangement in such association with a series of atmospheric air intake ports in the mufiler shell, that cold air induction occurs by virtue of and in proportionate relation to the combustion gas flow through the mufiler. The induced air and combustion gases are thoroughly mixed to assure uniform condensation of water vapor, and the resulting mixture together with the condensate particles or mist, are passed through a separating unit within the muffler shell, at which point the condensate particles are coalesced and separately removed.

All the various features and objects of the invention, as well as the details of a typical and illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the muffler in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-section of the mufiier; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are crosssections respectively on lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The muffler is shown to comprise an elongated shell 14} having a hot combustion gas inlet 11 and at its opposite end an outlet 12, the latter being shown as having an offset position to a location near the straight side wall of the shell. From the inlet 11, the gases enter a chamber 13, the forward wall 14 of which converges to a nozzle opening 15 concentric with the rnufller axis, and from which the gases are discharged at high velocity into a mixing passage 16. The latter desirably is formed by an internal venturi tube 17 spaced forwardly from the inlet chamber wall 14 a distance sufficient for lad 2,717,349 Patented Sept. 6, 1955 accommodation in the muffler shell 10, of a circular series of slotted atmospheric'air intake ports 18 extending continuously about the shell. Passage 16 may contain any suitable means for producing intimate and thorough mixing of the gases and air. ierely as illustrative, the mixing means 19 is shown to comprise a circular arrangement of curved vanes 20 supported at 21 within the venturi tube and so arranged as to impart a swirling and effective mixing motion to the gas stream.

Leaving the mixing passage, the gas stream passes through a separator unit 22, which in the broad contemplation of the invention may comprise any suitable means acting mechanically to accumulate and segregate condensed water vapor from the outlet gases. As typical only, the separating unit is shown to comprise a series of annular baffles 23 spaced axially of the muffier at 24, and radially offset in staggered relation so that the gas flowing through the separator in the paths indicated by the arrows repeatedly changes its courses in flowing through the central and annular spaces 25 and 26 within and between the individual bafiles. The baflle nest is shown to be integrated by tie bolts 27 terminating in the forward flange 28 of the venturi. Condensate removed from the gas stream by the separator drains to the bottom of the shell back of the dam 29, and is removed through the drain line 36'. Bottom openings at 31 in the bafiles permit free flow of condensate within and along the base of the separator to the drain line.

The operation of the muffler will generally be understood from the foregoing description. The high velocity gas discharge from nozzle 15 into the venturi mixing passage induces a flow of sub-zero atmospheric air through ports 18 in quantities sufficient to cool the gases to the point of condensing the major portion of their water content as a finely divided mist. The entrainment then undergoes separation by reason of the combined effects of centrifugal throw-out resulting from the swirling motion given the gas stream by the vanes 20, and also by bafile arrangement in the separator unit 22. Being thus depleted of their moisture content, the exhaust gases discharged through outlet 12 to the atmosphere contain relatively little water vapor, the visibility of which is minimized both by its low quantity and degree of dilution by the uncondensed combustion gases.

I claim:

1. An engine muffler comprising an elongated shell having at its opposite ends a gas inlet and an outlet, said shell containing a mixing passage defining a vapor condensing means and the wall of the shell containing air inlets through which inflow of atmospheric air is induced by virtue of the gas flow within the shell for admixture with the gas and to cool the gas below the dew point of water vapor therein, vanes in said mixing passage causing swirling motion of the admixed gas and air and outward centrifugal segregation of water condensate, liquid separating means in the shell beyond said mixing passage in the direction of the gas flow, and means for separately withdrawing water from said separating means.

2. An engine muffler comprising an elongated shell having at its opposite ends a gas inlet and an outlet, said shell containing a mixing passage defining a vapor condensing means and the wall of the shell containing air inlets through which inflow of atmospheric air is induced by virtue of the gas flow within the shell for admixture with the gas and to cool the gas below the dew point of water vapor therein, vanes in said mixing passage causing swirling motion of the admixed gas and air and outward centrifugal segregation of water condensate, liquid separating means comprising a nest of bafiles in the shell beyond said mixing passage in the direction of the gas flow, and means for separately withdrawing water from said separating means.

3. An engine mufller comprising an elongated shell having at its opposite ends a gas inlet and an outlet, said shell containing a venturi-shaped mixing passage defining a vapor condensing means receiving gas from said inlet and the wall of the shell containing air inlets through which inflow of atmospheric air is induced into said passage by virtue of the gas flow within the shell for admixture with the gas and to cool the gas below the dew point of water vapor therein, baffle means in the mixing passage imparting swirling motion to the gas stream and outward segregation of water condensate, liquid separating means in the shell beyond said mixing passage in the direction of the gas flow, and means for separately withdrawing water from said separating means.

4. An engine muffler comprising an elongated cylindrical shell having at its opposite ends a gas inlet and an outlet, said shell containing a venturi-shaped mixing passage defining a vapor condensing means receiving gas from said inlet and the full circular extent of the shell containing a series of uniformly spaced air inlets through which inflow of atmospheric air is induced into said passage by virtue of the gas flow within the shell for admixture with the gas and to cool the gas below the dew point of water vapor therein, liquid separating means in the shell beyond said mixing passage in the direction of. the gas flow, and means for separately withdrawing water from said separating means.

5. An engine mufller comprising an elongated shell having at its opposite ends a gas inlet and an outlet, a wall in said shell forming with its inlet end an enlarged gas chamber and containing a relatively small discharge opening, the shell containing a mixing passage defining a vapor condensing means receiving high velocity gas from said opening, the wall of the shell beyond said chamber in the direction of gas flow containing air inlets through which inflow of atmospheric air is induced by virtue of the gas flow from said opening for admixture with the gas and to cool the gas below the dew point of water vapor therein, liquid separating means in the shell beyond said mixing passage in the direction of the gas flow, and means for separately withdrawing water from said separating means.

6. An engine mufller comprising an elongated shell having at its opposite ends a gas inlet and an outlet, a venturi tube contained within an intermediate portion of said shell and forming a mixing passage defining a vapor condensing means receiving gas from said inlet, the wall of the shell containing air inlets at the mouth of said venturi tube through which inflow of atmospheric air is induced by virtue of the gas flow into said passage for admixture with the gas and to cool the gas below the dew point of water vapor therein, liquid separating means in the shell beyond said venturi tube in the direction of the gas flow, and means for separately withdrawing water from said separating means.

7. An engine muffler comprising an elongated shell having at its opposite ends a gas inlet and an outlet, a venturi tube contained within an intermediate portion of said shell and forming a mixing passage defining a vapor condensing means receiving gas from said inlet, the wall of the shell containing air inlets at the mouth of said venturi tube through which inflow of atrnospheric air is induced by virtue of the gas flow into said passage for admixture with the gas and to cool the gas below the dew point of water vapor therein, baflle means in the venturi tube for mixing and imparting swirling motion to the gas stream, liquid separating means in the shell beyond said venturi tube in the direction of the gas flow, and means for separately withdrawing water from said separating means.

8. An engine mufller comprising an elongated shell having at its opposite ends a gas inlet and an outlet, a venturi tube contained within an intermediate portion of said shell and forming a mixing passage defining a vapor condensing means receiving gas from said inlet, the wall of the shell containing air inlets at the mouth of said venturi tube through which inflow of atmospheric air is induced by virtue of the gas flow into said passage for admixture with the gas and to cool the gas below the dew point of water vapor therein, liquid separating means comprising a baffle nest in the shell beyond the venturi tube in the direction of the gas flow, and a condensate drain line leading from the battle nest through the shell wall.

9. An engine mufller comprising an elongated shell having at its opposite ends a gas inlet and an outlet, a venturi tube contained within an intermediate portion of said shell and forming a mixing passage defining a vapor condensing means receiving gas from said inlet, a forwardly convergent wall in the shell forming with its inlet end an enlarged gas chamber and containing a relatively small discharge opening from which the gas is discharged into said venturi tube, the wall of the shell containing between said forwardly convergent wall and venturi tube air inlets through which inflow of atmospheric air is induced by virtue of the gas flow into said passage for admixture with the gas and to cool the gas below the dew point of water vapor therein, liquid separating means in the shell beyond said venturi tube in the direction of the gas flow, and means for separately withdrawing water from said separating means.

10. An engine mufller comprising an elongated shell having at its opposite ends a gas inlet and an outlet, a venturi tube contained within an intermediate portion of said shell and forming a mixing passage defining a vapor condensing means, a forwardly convergent wall in the shell forming with its inlet end an enlarged gas chamber and containing a relatively small discharge opening from which the gas is discharged into said venturi tube, the wall of the shell containing between said forwardly convergent wall and venturi tube air inlets through which inflow of atmospheric air is induced by virtue of the gas flow into said passage for admixture with the gas and to cool the gas below the dew point of water vapor therein, liquid separating means comprising a battle nest in the shell beyond the venturi tube in the direction of the gas flow, and a condensate drain line leading from the baflle nest through the shell wall.

11. The combination in an engine mufller containing liquid separation means of an elongated shell having a gas inlet, a wall in said shell forming with its inlet end an enlarged gas chamber and containing a restricted gas discharge passage, the shell wall beyond said chamber in the direction of gas flow containing inlet ports admitting u air for admixture with the gas to cool the gas below the dew point of water vapor therein, and a venturi tube contained within said shell beyond said inlet ports, said tube forming a mixing for the air and gas and defining a vapor condensing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,217,615 McDowell Feb. 27, 1917 1,577,626 Warth Mar. 23, 1926 1,637,347 Nelson Aug. 2, 1927 1,709,332 Webb Apr. 16, 1929 1,877,296 Goldberg Sept. 13, 1932 1,927,947 Newell Sept. 26, 1933 2,088,994 Corey Aug. 3, 1937 2,511,190 Wright June 13, 1950 

